F72 ICD-10-CA category: Severe mental retardation
F72 isn’t a code on its own. Choose one of the 4 codes beneath it, the one the documentation supports.
Official description
F72Severe mental retardation
ICD-10-CA · Canada
Codes in F72
F72 isn’t a code on its own. Open the code that matches what the note documents.
F72.0Severe mental retardation with the statement of no, or minimal, impairment of behaviourF72.1Severe mental retardation, significant impairment of behaviour requiring attention or treatmentF72.8Severe mental retardation, other impairments of behaviourF72.9Severe mental retardation without mention of impairment of behaviourNotes for F72
As CIHI prints them, with any note F72 takes from the headings above it.
Includes
- Severe mental subnormality
- Disorders of psychological developmentFrom Chapter 5: Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)
Use additional code
Add a code for this detail when the note documents it.
- Use additional code, to identify associated conditions such as autism, other developmental disorders, epilepsy, conduct disorders, or severe physical handicap.From F70-F79 Mental retardation
Excludes
Conditions classified elsewhere.
- Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)From Chapter 5: Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)
Note
- Approximate IQ range of 20 to 34 (in adults, mental age from 3 to under 6 years). Likely to result in continuous need of support.
- A condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind, which is especially characterized by impairment of skills manifested during the developmental period, skills which contribute to the overall level of intelligence, i.e. cognitive, language, motor, and social abilities. Retardation can occur with or without any other mental or physical condition.Degrees of mental retardation are conventionally estimated by standardized intelligence tests. These can be supplemented by scales assessing social adaptation in a given environment. These measures provide an approximate indication of the degree of mental retardation. The diagnosis will also depend on the overall assessment of intellectual functioning by a skilled diagnostician.Intellectual abilities and social adaptation may change over time, and, however poor, may improve as a result of training and rehabilitation. Diagnosis should be based on the current levels of functioning.From F70-F79 Mental retardation
Where F72 sits
- 1ChapterChapter 5: Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)
- 2Block F70-F79Mental retardation
- 3Category F72Severe mental retardation
Source and release
- Data release
- ICD-10-CA · FY 2026–2027
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2026
- Publisher
- CIHI
This page is built from the ICD-10-CA catalog that Vero Codes reads when it suggests codes: Canadian Institute for Health Information’s FY 2026–2027 release, imported from the publisher’s file and checked against it. The description, notes and structured data come from the same record.
Frequently asked questions
Is F72 a valid ICD-10-CA code?
No. F72 (Severe mental retardation) is a category heading in CIHI’s ICD-10-CA FY 2026–2027 release. It holds 4 codes; record the one the documentation supports.
Where is F72 in ICD-10-CA?
F72 sits under F70-F79 Mental retardation, within Chapter 5: Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99).
What coding notes apply to F72?
ICD-10-CA lists Note, Includes, Use additional code, Excludes notes for F72, including those from the headings it sits under. They are listed on this page with where each one comes from.
Which ICD-10-CA release does this page use?
It uses CIHI’s FY 2026–2027 release, in effect from Apr 1, 2026 to Mar 31, 2027. It is a reference: confirm the code against the current list and the payer’s rules before you submit it.